Joey Barton has said the final few games of QPR's Premier League season have much more at stake than points and pride. The captain is likely to lead the side out against Arsenal at the weekend knowing that some of his team-mates are playing for their respective futures in the game.

The controversial midfielder told the club's website: "This is more than a game of football now. The next eight games govern our futures.

"We're as desperate for the points as they are – for totally different reasons obviously. But there are livelihoods on the line here. People's careers are on the line. I'm not sure that's the case at Arsenal, to be honest."

The Rs have struggled for consistency in the top flight since being promoted as Championship champions last season. Despite the home wins over such teams as Chelsea and Liverpool, Barton is all too aware the club are still in a relegation fight and failure to pull out of the bottom three could leave some players without a club come next season.

"They'll [Arsenal] want to win the game because they're professionals and they'll want to finish in the Champions League places, which is a minimum requirement for them," he said.

"But there are lads here whose careers are on the line – all the lads need to realise that. If we don't, we'll be punished for it."